VDOT News - Fredericksburg

UPDATE: The Rt. 223 bridge over Milford Haven at Gwynn's Island has resumed openings for marine traffic, following an inspection to the bridge's tender house. The tender house was struck yesterday by a piece of equipment traveling over the bridge being towed by trailer. The bridge will resume marine openings at six scheduled times a day: 2 a.m., 5 a.m., 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Both lanes of Rt. 223 remain open to vehicle traffic. 

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Route 223 (Old Ferry Road) bridge over Milford Haven between Gwynn’s Island and mainland Mathews County is closed for marine openings until further notice, after a piece of equipment being towed by a vehicle struck the bridge’s tender house today.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has closed the bridge’s tender house until further inspection can be performed on Wednesday, Oct. 13. Route 223 was reduced to a single lane this afternoon, but both travel lanes are now open.

Additional information will be announced once more is known about the extent of the damage to the tender house. No estimated schedule for reopening to marine traffic is currently available.

Built in 1938, the bridge over Milford Haven opens to marine traffic more than any other state-maintained movable bridge in Virginia. It opens approximately 3,000 times a year.

The bridge’s navigational clearance is 11 feet vertically and 80 feet horizontally when closed. Watercraft that cannot navigate underneath the bridge within this clearance requires an opening.

511Virginia

Mariners can check 511Virginia for real-time updates on the bridge status for marine traffic. 511Virginia is available at 511virginia.org, through the free mobile 511Virginia app for smartphone and mobile devices, and by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia.

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VDOT’s 14-county Fredericksburg District includes the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford in the Fredericksburg area; Northumberland, Richmond, Lancaster and Westmoreland counties in the Northern Neck; Essex, Gloucester, King & Queen, King William, Mathews and Middlesex counties in the Middle Peninsula.

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.